Lucknow: The first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles produced at the newly established BrahMos Aerospace Unit in Lucknow is set to be inducted into the Indian Armed Forces. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will jointly flag off the missiles on Saturday, marking a key milestone in India’s defense manufacturing sector.
The BrahMos missile, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 3 and striking targets up to 300 km away with precision, has been a central element of India’s strategic arsenal. It was reportedly used in ‘Operation Sindoor’ in May 2025, during which India targeted terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives in April.
Designed for multi-platform deployment, BrahMos can be launched from fighter jets, warships, submarines, and road-mobile launchers. The system was also operationally deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during India’s stand-off with China in 2020, underscoring its deterrence capability.
Jointly developed by India and Russia, the BrahMos missile entered service in 2007, with its first production unit based in Bengaluru. The new Lucknow facility, inaugurated in May 2025, is equipped with advanced systems for missile assembly, integration, testing, and final quality checks, representing a major leap in India’s indigenous defense production.
During Saturday’s visit, the Defence Minister and Chief Minister will also inaugurate the Booster Building and witness a live demonstration of the booster docking process. They are expected to review key sections of the facility, including airframe, avionics, pre-dispatch inspection (PDI), and warhead buildings, as well as the BrahMos simulator equipment.
According to a Defence Ministry spokesperson, Dr. Jaytirth R. Joshi, Director-General of BrahMos Aerospace, will hand over a GST bill and cheque to CM Adityanath, symbolizing revenue generation for the state. The continuous production of BrahMos missiles at this unit will boost employment for skilled professionals and strengthen the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC).
Located in Sarojini Nagar, the Lucknow BrahMos facility is one of the most significant projects under the UPDIC. It is the first unit in the corridor capable of managing the entire process of missile manufacturing, integration, and testing indigenously, reinforcing India’s strategic autonomy and industrial growth in the defense sector.
BrahMos Aerospace has significantly expanded its production capabilities to meet the growing demands of the Armed Forces. The technologies being developed at the Lucknow unit are expected to pave the way for next-generation variants of the BrahMos missile, further strengthening India’s defense modernization efforts.
